Opened: 1838

Annual Production: 4,000 hl

The monks at St. Sixtus warn Americans against buying illegally-importes Westvleteren beer.

Updated: May 21, 2021

• 2021-05-16: Trouble brews between Trappist monks and Belgian mineral empire (The Guardian)
• 2020-05-15: Belgian Trappists reopen tap for beer sales as lockdown eases (Reuters)
• 2019-06-17: Famed Westvleteren Brewery opens its doors for online Trappist beer business (The Takeout)
• 2014-08-26: Legendary Belgian Trappist beer Westvleteren falls foul of EU labelling rules (The Telegraph)
• 2012-12-12: A Sign From Above? Needing New Roof, Monks Sell Rare Beer In U.S. (NPR)
• 2012-11-29: Rare Westvleteren 12 beer coming to LCBO (Toronto Star)
• 2011-11-04: Westvleteren Beer To Be Distributed In U.S. (BeerAdvocate)

• Westvleteren 12
  Belgian-Style Tripel
  10.20% abv.

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• Westvleteren 8
  Belgian-Style Dubbel
  8.00% abv.
  • Date: October 2, 2004 (#5469)
    Package: bottled
    Place: Falling Rock Tap House, Denver CO
    Score: 20 points
    Appearance (3)
    Bright deep red. Huge dense head. Some chunks due to my clumsy pour.
    Aroma (4)
    Grainy, caramelly, spicy, fruity — one of the most complex beer aromas I've experienced.
    Mouthfeel (10)
    Medium very fizzy body. Lots of caramel and lots of alcohol. Lots of spice and lots of Brettanomyces. Grassy and fruity and bitter and tasty and magnificent.
    Overall Impression (3)
    The 30cl bottle fetches $17 here.